Spencer Preaching: Palm Sunday

Sermon Title: "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: A Palm Sunday Reflection"

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your presence here today. As we reflect on the words of the Lord’s Prayer, may our hearts and minds be open to Your truth, Your Kingdom, and Your eternal glory. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, help us understand the deep significance of these words, especially as we remember the triumph of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on this Palm Sunday. Amen.

Introduction:We begin our reflection today with a familiar phrase from the Lord’s Prayer, one that has echoed through Christian liturgy for centuries: "For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen." While these words are not found in the earliest manuscripts of the Gospel of Matthew or Luke, they were added by the early church as a doxology—an expression of praise—meant to reinforce the sovereignty of God and the eternal nature of His reign.

On this Palm Sunday, as we commemorate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, this phrase invites us to reflect on the nature of God’s Kingdom, His power, and His glory, and how all of these are revealed in the life and work of Christ.

1. For Thine is the Kingdom: The Reign of Jesus When we speak of God's kingdom, we are acknowledging that God reigns over all creation. On Palm Sunday, we see Jesus entering Jerusalem not as a political king, but as the King of peace, riding humbly on a donkey. The crowds shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:9), proclaiming Him as their King. Yet, Jesus' kingdom is not of this world; His kingdom is one of love, justice, and mercy.

The early church added the phrase "For thine is the kingdom" as a reminder that despite the world’s systems of power, wealth, and corruption, God’s kingdom is eternal and invincible. Jesus inaugurated this kingdom through His life, death, and resurrection, and as believers, we are called to live under His reign, to be citizens of a Kingdom that will never pass away.

Reflection Question: How do we live as citizens of God’s Kingdom in a world that often seems so disconnected from God’s reign?

2. For Thine is the Power: The Power of the Cross When we speak of God's power, we are acknowledging His ability to bring transformation, healing, and redemption to the world. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of a week where the ultimate expression of God’s power is revealed—not through military might or political maneuvering, but through the weakness of the cross. Jesus, the King, will soon be arrested, beaten, and crucified. To the world, this might seem like weakness, but to the believer, this is the ultimate display of God’s power.

As the Apostle Paul writes, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25). God’s power is revealed in the self-sacrificial love of Jesus. In the moment of greatest apparent defeat, God’s power is at work, bringing salvation to all who believe.

Reflection Question: Where do we see God’s power at work in our own lives, especially in moments of suffering or weakness?

3. For Thine is the Glory: The Glory of the Resurrection God’s glory is revealed in the resurrection of Jesus, which is the final confirmation that God’s Kingdom is established forever and His power is unassailable. While the crowds on Palm Sunday may have shouted praises, they didn’t fully understand the glory that would be revealed three days later when Jesus rose from the dead. The resurrection is the moment when the glory of God is most fully made manifest: Jesus, victorious over death, is exalted and enthroned as the eternal King.

As we pray, “For thine is the glory,” we are affirming that God alone deserves all honor and praise, both now and forever. His glory is not fleeting like the glory of earthly rulers; it is eternal, and it is ultimately revealed in the risen Christ. We are invited to share in that glory, not through our own strength, but through our union with Christ in His death and resurrection.

Reflection Question: How does the hope of Christ’s resurrection inspire us to live with a sense of eternal purpose and glory?

4. Forever and Ever: The Eternal Nature of God’s Kingdom The phrase "forever and ever" reminds us that God’s Kingdom, power, and glory are not temporary or subject to change. Unlike the kingdoms of this world, which rise and fall, the Kingdom of God is eternal. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was not a fleeting moment of political upheaval but the beginning of a plan that would last forever. The events of Holy Week—His death, resurrection, and ascension—mark the beginning of God’s eternal reign, which will culminate in the return of Christ and the establishment of a new heaven and earth.

As we reflect on Palm Sunday, we are reminded that Jesus is not only the King who entered Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, but He is the eternal King who will return to establish His Kingdom in fullness.

Reflection Question: How does the reality of God’s eternal Kingdom affect the way we live and view the world around us?

Conclusion: As we close, let us remember that when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we are not just offering words; we are affirming the truth of who God is—the King who reigns over all, the One whose power is made perfect in weakness, the One whose glory is revealed in Christ, and the One whose Kingdom will endure forever. On this Palm Sunday, let us join the crowds in shouting, “Hosanna to the King!” and let us look forward to the day when Christ returns in glory to establish His eternal Kingdom.